Kuenz, an Austrian crane manufacturer, has acquired a large order for 20 automated side-loading stacking cranes for the new Baltic Hub T3 terminal, which is presently under development.
The order was signed in September 2022, and the initiative is expected to extend and expand Kuenz and PSA’s long-standing collaboration.
The new automatic stacking cranes will have a span of 32 metres, two 8.5 metre-long booms, and 1 over 6 lifting height.
Swiss company ABB will provide electrical equipment, including automation.
After collaborating on multiple stacking crane projects for end load terminals, ABB and Kuenz will now provide the first side load terminal equipment in Europe.
Regarding the technical characteristics, the crane structure is made up of a double-girder crane bridge with a patented trolley by Kuenz. The trolley has a four-drum lift with direct outgoing ropes to the headframe. The head block has a micro-motion that allows for precise placement in the direction of movement of the trolley and crane. This technique corrects any possible misalignment.
“The tailor-made concept of ABB and Kuenz according to Baltic Hub’s requirements for automatic stacking crane systems, was the basis for winning Baltic Hub’s order,” said David Moosbrugger, general manager at Kuenz.
The cranes will be delivered in several phases beginning in early 2024 until June 2025 with Kuenz planning to go live on the terminal in the second quarter of 2024.
Meanwhile, Baltic Hub has begun work on its third deepsea terminal, known as T3, which will make the container hub one of the largest in Europe, capable of handling the next generation of container ships coming into the Baltic Sea.
The T3 project, which is expected to be finished in 2025, will contain a 717-metre-long deep-water quay with depths alongside 17.5 metres and a yard area of 365,000 metres.
In addition, 20 semi-automated Rail Mounted Gantry (RMG) cranes for the container yard and seven new quay cranes capable of handling the world’s largest vessels will be purchased as part of the investment.
